Five years after the death of Sir Bobby Robson readers share pictures and stories of meeting the great man

These photographs capture Sir Bobby Robson happily posing with delighted fans, declared by one and all to be a "true gent"

See the photographs and stories in our gallery then hear from those who also had the honour of meeting Sir Bobby, and have some marvellous stories too:

Mala Gladstone: I met him at WH Smith in Northumberland Street when he was signing his book. I was first In the queue. I am in a wheelchair and Bobby asked me what the other bloke was like, jokingly. A true gentleman. RIP Wor Bobby.

Steve Brown: I met him at the opening of St. James’ Boulevard some years ago. I won the competition to name the road then went to SJP for lunch with Sir Bobby, his good lady and Alan Shearer. Fantastic day, must dig out the photos.

Andrew Hobson: Yes in the hospital the same day he was rediagnosed. Still signed an autograph for me.

Rob Perkins: I had the pleasure of meeting him in the lift at SJP on a match day. He was a perfect gent.. A young boy asked for his autograph and handed over his book when Sir Bobby opened it and noticed the page he was going to sign on was adjacent to Sir John Hall’s autograph and signed that way.. Sir Bobby signed it while saying “wow a Sir.. You just need to call me Bobby son”. It was said in good humour and he made that little boy a happy lad!

Helen Clarkson: Met him about seven years ago outside of St James Park. He was putting his gold clubs in his boot when I went to use the cashpoint and he jokingly asked me to get cash out for him too. Stayed and had a bit of banter with me n hubby but didn’t wanna ask for pic or signature cos he was out with some lads...Top bloke x

Jay Mac: Met him the day shearer announced his international retirement al scored two away at Wednesday that day and Pav was in goal for them. Bobby told two young lads off for pushing for autographs bless him. Heaven’s manager x

Kaylee Ava Lily Buglass: Yes. Me &amp; my mam were walking at St James and he passed in the car. Gave a smile &amp; a wave I was over the moon. Ill never ever forget it gentleman. RIP Sir Bobby.

Helen Hudson: I met him at Birmingham airport. He came over when he heard the accents and we all had a good craic. Lovely man.

Abby Rose Elliott: I met him in the exact same place as his memorial statue stands now at St James’ Park. Such a lovely man. I was only young yet I can still remember just how sweet he was.

Hazel Burns: Met Bobby at the Coppthorne Hotel in Newcastle. He was there before a match and I expressed how disappointed I was at the way the board had treat him, gentleman gave me a signed autograph for my nephew, we still have it.

Jon Tait: I met Bobby in Rothbury at a mate’s electrical shop when he was managing over in Holland. True gent, spent ages talking football with us. I met him again years later at Gretna when he was poorly. But he remembered that crack in Rothbury. Pure class.

Katie Masoodi: We met him six weeks before he passed away.

Eddy Falkland: Met him in Bangkok. The Toon were playing a pretty season friendly over there. He was looking for a handbag for Elsie at a market. Top man!

Melanie Young: I met him at his book ‘farewell but not forgotten’ signing at WHSmith at the MetroCentre, My sister took a photo but she couldn’t stop shaking. Sir Bobby told her she’d take a better pic if she put all the shopping bags down. Then she couldn’t take one for laughing.

Lewis Watts: He once tapped my jaw with his fist. He was joking, obviously.

Anthony Nag Abraham: Me and my mate Lewis Watts had dinner with him and his wife before Newcastle’s game against Charlton Athletic years ago.

Anthony Brett: I was coming out of Newcastle races with my dad and to be fair I was little bit half cut, Bobby Robson was Newcastle’s manager at the time and was just walking out when I bumped into him. I shouted “Bobby!”, give him a big cuddle and carried on walking. Bet he thought, bloody hell, who was that? My dad said, ‘that’s made your day, hasn’t it’, I said, ‘absolutely, the man’s a legend’.

Jenny King: I had the pleasure of meeting him at Waterstones at the Silverlink a few years ago. Got him to sign the book for Big Vern (fathet in law). He was a true gent and said how lovely i looked! RIP to a lovely man xxxxxxxx

Stephen Bird: My dad had the pleasure of meeting him in China town. He was sitting waiting for his food when my dad asked for his autograph, as everyone will know he didn’t mind signing. As my dad got the autograph more and more people noticed he was there, his food came out but that didn’t stop him from signing and posing for pictures. True Gent!

Michelle Chapman: I had the pleasure of meeting him at a Burns night especially held for him! I have his autograph on a special menu from that evening x

Amy Louise Pullen: Twice, a lovely man who was cheeky enough to ask me to a party at the Copthorne on the quayside when I worked at BT next door He made my day, god bless him xxx

Emma Meachen: I worked at St James’ Park (catering) during his time as manager..always a true gentleman and stopped for a chat on many occasions!

Erin Armstrong: Met him at the training ground during a work meeting, we went out at lunch to watch them and he signed my work paper. He was absolutely lovely.

Nev Latimer: I met him when my son was the mascot for the day. Wot an honour it was to chat with him,strangely it was about how bad Owen was injured before he came to the Toon.

Jo Emery: I met him at a book signing as he is one of my husband's heros and he was lovely with a real twinkle in his eye.

Gary Hewitson: Met him and the squad at the old riverside training ground in 1999.

Lyn Lapham: Met him on a flight from London. True gent.

Gordon Simpson: Met Bobby a couple of times. He was truly a great man. Always had time for anyone who wanted to talk.

Mark Fury Noble: Got his autograph once when a was a kid he was a top bloke and a great manager.

George Law: My wife &amp; I were on the same plane, Newcastle to Heathrow, when he was going to London for his knighthood. Such a lovely man to talk to. I got his autograph for granddaughter Sian Frater.

Christine Cloutt: I have seen him a couple of times, once on the same flight from London to Newcastle, we named our black Lab Bobby Robson. Sadly never met him and respected his privacy on the plane.

David Holland: 31st of July my birthday. Day to remember for another happening. God bless. A true gentleman.

Helen Clarkson: Met him about 7 years ago outside of St James Park. He was putting his gold clubs in his boot when I went to use the cashpoint and he jokingly asked me to get cash out for him too. Stayed n had a bit of banter with me n hubby but didn’t wanna ask for pic or signature cos he was out with some lads...Top bloke x

Irene McCarroll: I met Bobby Robson at the Metro Arena. He was sat next to my son Chris Cmac Mccarroll at a Barry Manilow concert and he was a down-to-earth man and was a huge Barry Manilow fan xxxx

Anthony Dent: Saw him outside Wembley for England v Spain 1996. He was Barca boss at the time and everyone wanted a piece of him. But he had time for everyone. A great bloke.

Carol Smith: He did a book signing at Asda Living in Byker, where I worked. A lovely gentleman.

Kriss Fee: When I was one of those daft kids queuing for players autographs, I was there one day when we played Leeds under Bobby. Me and my mate Chris Carrwere there waiting to meet the great man. When they all got off the coach he signed our programmes and in my unbroken voice I said as loud as I could “three nowt the day Bobby” to which he replied “that’ll do me”. Then he looked and US and only US and said “we’re missing Gary Speed today”. Doesn’t sound like much, but to two massive young Toon fans, that is a memory we will remember forever.

Julie Mann: I remember going through treatment at the General and I wasn’t too well but was sitting next to a grey-headed man in the passage waiting to go up for a scan and am looking thinking I know you from somewhere but where? The nurse came and she said it’s Bobby Robson. He thought it was funny, like me a bit red faced. I didn’t have the strength to ask for a photo with him. But lovely man he was x

Julie Ann Edwards: I worked at Newcastle United when Bobby managed at Newcastle. He always had time to stop to say hello, and he even had time for a boogie on the dance floor at the Christmas party.

David Graham: Met Sir Bob a couple of times when I worked at Durham County Cricket Club. He often came to a cricket match or just brought his daughters in for dinner, I had a chat with him about us playing Birmingham City the following weekend and wished him luck. He just said “we will do our best, son” and of course they won 2-1. What a gent. He always had time for a chat. Not just the NUFC manager but also a real fan with real heart and always played attractive football. Where would Mourinho be without Bobby!

Clair Burnett Shields: This guy is a legend! And I’m a makem (albeit the husband would bleed black and white if he cut himself). The husband said he recalls seeing him at St James Park when he picked up some match tickets. He said even being 50 yards away from him was enough. He said you knew you were in the presence of a great man. Truly inspirational. Utmost respect for this gent.

Christine Marsh: I was at the waterfront fish and chip shop, North Shields Fish Quay, when he came in for his fish n chips.

Janetta Trzcinski: My nan and his aunt Mrs Teasdale were next-door neighbours and good friends when they lived in Washington. Used to see Bobby Robson often when he visited.

Paul Curry: I never had a photo with him but I met him one year during the Tall Ships Race on the Quayside in Newcastle. He was walking through the crowd with his family and I stopped him and asked for an autograph and he signed no bother.

Mary Higgins: I saw him when I was attending hospital, he passed by with his wife, tall lovely looking man and his wife very pretty.

Lisa Thompson: I met Sir Bobby when I was 10 years old. I was on a school trip to the computer suite at St James’ Park and Sir Bobby kindly spared some of his time to speak to me and the other children. I remember feeling so excited and I couldn’t wait to go home and tell everyone how great it was! Sir Bobby always will be a legend.

Jennifer Mann Billingham: I can remember when he was manager of Ipswich and they won the FA cup, he brought the cup to Langley Park Club, filled it with beer and passed it round to everyone. I met him a few times because I lived at Langley Park where his parents and siblings lived. He often visited them so he was very popular among the locals.

Craig Gibbon New: I have no pics but I have met this gentleman twice, once at Crook Town FC as a kid and at a sports dinner a few years later. A true gentleman!

Joanne Scott: I met him at the Freeman Hospital when my brother was going through his treatment for cancer at the same time as Sir Bobby. A lovely man and a true legend.

John Scott Nelson: Met him at Matfen Hall when there was an SBR foundation golf day. I didn’t know it was on. Saw him and went over with some cash as a donation.Told him I was also from NW Durham and we started chatting about football pitches we’d played on. After giggling like kids for 20 minutes lady Elsie had to come and get him as a dignatory had arrived. As I left he said “bye Jack ...Witton Gilbert” we both corpsed to the bemusement of the assembled throng. That was a pitch which because of mining subsidence you kicked uphill both halves!

Marjorie Colpitts: I met him many times. I remember when he brought a trophy to Langley Park and he signed autographs in his brother’s shop. He was a lovely person.

William Petty: We met Sir Bobby outside St James on one of our visits back home he asked where we came from when we said Dunedin, New Zealand, he said he could remember taking a team out to Dunedin and remembered it was cold that day at the Caledonion Ground.

Colin Gilbert: I don’t have a photo but I met him in the 1st class lounge at Kings Cross. I had a GNER club card so could use the lounge but was travelling standard class. Bobby had an empty seat at his table and invited me to sit with him and over about 20 minutes he made me feel I was one of his family. When our train arrived he said I should come into 1st class and he would sort it out. I bet he would have too as the train staff clearly thought the world of him. I thanked him and found my seat in standard class in case I embarrassed the train team had there been no spare seats. What a real gent and a lovely man.

Sam Spedding: I shook his hand at the Stadium of Light. It was the last home game of the season v Chelsea. We (SAFC) got beat but the Mags still got relegated. He was a top bloke, in fact, a legend.

Darren Hogg: I had my pic taken with wor bobby with the FA Cup at Croft Park roadshow with Blyth Spartans, only to have my coat pinched and lost the Polaroid forever.

Michael Phillips: I remember meeting Sir Bobby Robson for the first time. I think it was a week before we thumped Fulham at home. I’m not 100% sure of the season but I went to the training ground with my older cousins and uncle and I was possibly the smallest kid there. I had just got to the front of the rows of kids getting their tops signed from Shearer and co and I had missed all but Aaron Hughes. Out of the blue, Sir Bobby came over and tapped me on the shoulder. He asked me how I was and how old I was and signed my shirt. He was amazing and I’m so glad I got 2 minutes just for him to ask me a question and sign my shirt. Sadly missed.

Tom Craig: First time I met Bobby I was about 7 at an autograph session. I asked him for his autograph and he replied with “have you got a pen, lad”. I didn’t have a pen. He said “have you got a piece of paper”. I didn’t have a piece of paper. He said “well how the hell am I supposed to give you an autograph, then” and then called out to everyone around to see if anyone had a pen and paper for me. True gentleman.

Derek Petrie: I was waiting outside the training ground many years ago, at 8:30am Sir Bobby pulls in and winds his window down. I shuffled over and said: “Hi Bobby, would you mind signing my book (his autobiography) please.” He replied “of course son, who to?” I said “to me.” He replied “ I know it’s to you bonny lad, but what’s your name?” Never felt so embarrassed in my life but what wonderful, wonderful man. An inspiration to so many people. Never forgotten.

Stacey Morgan: It was 2008 and me and partner at the time and two friends decided to have walk to Tynemouth beach and let our children play. We got there and my two friends took the kids to play on the beach and me and partner said, “we will go to the cafe Crusoe and get every one a drink”. We were just approaching and a man with two women linking arms with him were walking past. My partner didn’t take any notice but something made me stare at this man and there he was, Sir Bobby Robson. My jaw just hit the floor, I was speechless. The women were helping get to his car paying no attention to me but only to him. My head just followed him, he seen him smile and gave me a wink - I think it was to say he acknowledged I had realised who he was! I could have stopped him and got his autograph but he just looked so poorly. I really felt for him seeing those ladies help him and seeing him like that. I ran to my partner and told him and we watched him get helped into his silver car. We waved and he waved back.

Allan Scorer: Had the pleasure of frequently speaking to Sir Bobby when working at St James' Park during the upgrade of the east stand and car park . Numerous times he would stop the car on the way past and ask how the job was going and telling us we were doing a cracking job. Another time i was leaving the reception where the team were waiting for the coach to take them to training and he shouted at me for being late whilst jokingly calling me Andy (Griffin).

Alan Millen: Shortly after NUFC let Sir Bobby go, I found the nerve to send him a copy of the first Exiles CD (I am the lyricist and he is referenced on that CD in our song "To Sing The Blaydon Races"). To my astonishment, a few weeks later I received a hand-written, full-page letter from him thanking me for the disc. Noting that The Exiles do their recording in Vancouver, he spent a few lines reminiscing about his time with the Vancouver Royals in 1967 and said some nice things about the city, too. His letter is one of my most treasured possessions.

You can email your Sir Bobby photographs and stories to us at community@ncjmedia.co.uk

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